WHEN YOUR CHOICE FOR A COLLEGE TO PLAY BASEBALL COMES DOWN TO COLUMBIA, NORTHWESTERN STATE, AND PRINCETON, YOU KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT ALONG THE WAY ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
Fort Bend Christian Academy senior Jordan Kelly had to make a choice and, in the end, it was the orange and black of Princeton that called him home.
"Just out of all my options for baseball, it just seemed the most comfortable," Kelly said. "It felt like it was a place that I could see myself and it was just awesome to see the campus.
"It's really exciting, obviously ever since I was young I always wanted to play baseball. Just the ability to go to the next level at a school like Princeton is awesome. I'm looking forward to it so much."
Even though college baseball is his path now, Kelly didn't see it as a reality until his freshman season at FBCA.
"Throughout middle school, I just enjoyed playing the game and I realized that I had a shot," Kelly said. "That's what fueled me to play in college."
The towering shortstop for the Eagles was named first-team, all-district for his senior season and put up some gawdy numbers, including 49 RBIs, while batting .447 for the season.
Being a shortstop, there are a lot of Major League stars to mirror himself after, including Houston Astro Carlos Correa. But he's not the only one.
"Obviously, I like Carlos Correa and his game," he said. "I do look at other players too, like for example [Los Angeles Dodger] Corey Seager or [New York Met] Francisco Lindor. Those are also people that I really admire and try to mimic."
Kelly does have aspirations of being in the MLB one day, but if that doesn't happen, he wants to stay in the game in some form.
"I know a lot of people who have graduated from Princeton that have gone into baseball, managing and front office stuff with Major League teams," Kelly, who is going to pursue a business or marketing degree at Princeton, said. "That's something I'd strongly consider."
Once he takes off the FBCA uniform for the last time, Kelly does want to be remembered but not just for what he was able to do on the field as an Eagle.
"I hope they remember how much I work and how much I want to have fun," he said. "Just trying to get better every day but also enjoying where we are with each other and try and make as many memories as we can."
